Acupuncture for Residual Insomnia Associated With Major Depressive Disorder

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for Residual Insomnia Associated With Major Depressive Disorder

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on residual insomnia in major depressive patients.

This is a randomized single-blinded controlled trial. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. One is the traditional acupuncture treatment group, one is the non-traditional acupuncture treatment group and the other is an acupuncture-like placebo treatment. Patients will be put into groups and then compared. The chance of getting into each group is 1:1:1, i.e. equal chance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing to give informed consent;
• Hong Kong resident;
• Age 18-65 years;
• Previous DSM-IV Major Depressive Disorder as confirmed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV;
• Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores of 18 or below for at screening and baseline visit;
• A chief complaint of insomnia;
• Able to comply with the trial protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any symptoms suggestive of specific sleep disorders, including loud snoring, periodic leg movement, parasomnia;
• A diagnosis of sleep apnea or periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) as assessed by overnight polysomnography (PSG);
• Presence of suicidal risk;
• Previous history of schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, and bipolar disorder;
• Pregnant, breast-feeding, or woman of childbearing potential not using adequate contraception;
• Infection or abscess close to the site of selected acupoints and in the investigator's opinion inclusion is unsafe.